Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 6 June 2024
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Thursday
2 Timothy 2:8-15. Mark 12:28-34
Nearness to the kingdom
“Not the sacrifices and burnt offerings, but the observances of the commandments of love of God and love of neighbour take us near to the kingdom.”
The people of Jesus’ time, particularly who were enamoured of his teaching or those who were beneficiaries of his miracles, accepted Jesus to be their master and teacher. However, his enemies wanted to test his worth as a teacher. Three groups come to test Jesus and to trap him in his words: the Pharisees-the Herodians, the Sadducees, and the Scribes. The first two groups leave Jesus with a faithful statement. But, the third group – a Scribe – is caught in Jesus’ ‘trap’. Encounter with Jesus must be personal, transformative, and purposeful.
Jesus responded to the question, ‘Which is the greatest commandment?’ does two things:
(a) Extension
He extends the first command in order to include the love of neighbour. Thus, the greatest commandment becomes the combination of two commandments.
(b) Replacement
Jesus replaces the sacrifices and the burnt offerings with the love of neighbour.
Three lessons for us?
(a) Prioritising. Jesus invites his audience to prioritise among the 618 ordinances.
(b) Understanding. Jesus appreciates the quality of the Scribe, who was able to reflect historially.
(c) Proximity to the kingdom. The sacrifices and offerings bring us closer to God physically, observances of the Law take us closer.
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It is not debates or discussions that convince our truth, but our witnessing (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 117).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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